The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-13
HE GETS TEN YEARS.
Harper Goes to the Penitentiary.
The Largest Crowd Yet Gathers in
the Court Room.
Harper Comes IN Followed by His
Wife and Miss Matthews.
Tears Come While the Sentence ia
Pronounced.
The Most Pathetic and Emotional
Scenes Ensue, and Nothing Breaks

CINCINNArI, o., Dec. lo.-Tbc greatest
crowd yet gathered in the corridors of the
United States courtroom assembled this
morning, long before the time for the as-
semblng OF the court, Ii was simply i'm.
possible for ladies TO get in at the public
door, and only those who had friends to
show them the private entrances could
reach the courtroom. At 10 o'clock
Judge Sage appeared alone, Judge Jackson
having been called TO hold court in Cow
ington. Court was opened, and seven
minutes later the jury tlcd In. As soon
as seated, Judge Sage asked II the mem.
beers had agreed on verdict, and the fore.
man said they had. The judge directed
the clerk To receive II.
At this point Mr.. Blackburn called the
courts attention 10 the absence OF the
defendant.
let him be brought ill.," said tho
judge.
Ina two minutes Marshal Timer en-
tered, followed by Mr. Harper, looking
pale and concerned. Behind him came
his wife, her face u study. II looked ~ II
she was upbomc hy faith that In some
way she was 10 hear good news nom that
jury. Miss Matthews, her sister, followed,
~ calm rs she could be. When they
were seated, the clerk took the sealed en-
yclopc Enclosing the sentence tore it
open and read the fatal words, I'VE, the
jury, find the defendant guilty ~ charged
IN the Indictment
This meant guilty on all the thirly.thrcc
counts left for the jury Ia act upon There
was no oulcry from either Of the women.
Mrs. HARPER SAT ~ ~ TR,NsriXEp,
| but Miss Matthews found relief in tears,
which she struggled with all her power to
pprrss.
Mr.. Blackburn moved an arrest oi judg.
mcnt, which the court Instantly over
ruled. Then District Attorney liurnet
moved iur immediate sentence. aud that
the sentence be- cumulative judge Sage.
in somewhat lengthy opinion. stated
the result of his investigation IN the qucs.
ton oi cumulative sentences in a casc like
| this and this gave some relief Ia the sud-
| dcnncus NJ the blow upon the llnrper
ipnily. lie iunlly overrnlcd the motion
aud asked II the defendant had anything
a. tay before sentence was pronounced
! upon him.
Mr.. Blackburn arose and said that the
| defendant wished Ia speak through him,
and Ia say that lac had nothing Ia add Ia
what had been said. except to thank the
court Tor ils fair aud impartial treatment
aud 10 ask that the court be- ~ mcrciiul
~ the circumstances aud the law would
permit.
At 1875 O'Clock the court desired llar.
per Ia stand up. II was q most distressing
scene. The strong man stool erect, with
TEARS CouWsiNg down ms CuEEKs,
but no other sign Of emotion, save mis-
blnnchcd lacc. Behind his chair with
bowed head, snt his wife, IN an agony that
hal no better manifestation than the
wringing of her hands. Tcan did not
come 10 her relief. Miss Matthews, lar
more dcmunstutiyc, still rcprsscd sobs,
and, IN her own di-lrss, reached over Ia
try 10 comfort her sister by u touch. So
they sat while the court, with impressive
sOlcmnity, Wciicd the usual form uf sen.
tcncc, saying the evidence lett ~ doubt NJ
the defendants guilt anl that the oilcnso
mcritod the highest penalty II the law,
which the court would now impose, ten
ycar IN the Ohio pcnitcntinry, and that
the marshal convey him thithor NJ once.
Still no outcry. Mr. Harper snt down,
turning Ia his wife. Their lips met. her
hands were around his neck, his arus en-.
comprised her. The silence IN the court.
room was awful. Jumn Ncpl, women
aud men all over the courtroom WDrc la
tcan The silence was broken hy Mr.
Blackburn making last request from the
court, that the order for immediate i'm.
prisonmcnt bc suspended, and gave as
reason that there was much business to BE-
attended to by Harper IN which his wife
was closely concerned, aud II would be- cx.
rccdingly difficult Ia attend Ia II unless Mr.
Harper could remain here Tor lew DAYS
but the court was relentless Judge
Sage said ihcrc would bo opportunity Tor
his wife a. see him In Columbus, aud he
repeated the order to the marshal ~ con-
ycy him thithcr today At 1890 o'clock
the jury WIS discharged, and Marshal
Umcr conducted the defendant b. thcmar-
shal's Office.
DEPARTURE ron CoLuMuus.
After the scenes IN the court room iIar.
per and his family spent some time IN the
marshal office. and then went 10 the inil,
where hc spent the afternoon IN his room
preparing ior lis departure. The bedding
his trunk and other property were taken
out aud sent 90 his house. His family
INtN'A lililf Nli'A llf Wliili lllilil FNNil Nv
Mn. Harper fingered after the others had
departed, and her farewell was spoken
with him alone. A moment niicrwnr1 ho
appeared M unmoyod ~ ever shortly
before I o'clock q carriage appeared NJ the
Jail into which Harper aud the deputy
manhals, kicn-tcd aud Costello, entered
and were driven 81 the Central passenger
depot, passing on the way his late resi-
dcncc on Fourth street. There was a
small gathering Of people there 10 see him
enter the train, but the deputies avoided
the front entrance by going down John
street and entering the depot from the
west end. lie WIS placed In q parlor car
ON the Midland train, IN the smoking com.
paftmcnt, aud the curtains drawn. Here
Miss Matthews Joined him, accompanied
by her father and brother A crowd gath
cred about tho car and waited until the
train moved out, at i0j o'clock.
II has all been done rapidly. The trial
began two weeks ago tomorrow No Time
was lost Ia argumcnt the verdict was
given Mt lG0Oo'clock, the sentence NJ TO- %
O'Clock, and ne i.0j o'clock the great head
OF the once famous Fidelity bank WIN ON
on his way TO the Ohio penlientiary ut
Columbus.
Arrival 10 Soiunbns.
Columns o., Dec. l2.-Tho Grs, chap